Manny Corpas Signs Long-Term Deal
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have signed closer Manny Corpas to a four-year deal with two option years. The options cover his last year of arbitration and first of free agency. $8MM is guaranteed, with potential for $22MM. Renck has the details here. It’s definitely a team-friendly contract. The Rox have also locked up youngsters Troy Tulowitzki and Jeff Francis. Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe are currently going year-to-year.
There has never been a deal of this kind, a closer with less than two years service time signing for four years. Closers like Jonathan Papelbon and Matt Capps, also possibilities for long-term deals, have two years service time.
Odds and Ends: Spiezio, Pavano, Gross, Jackson
Links, rumors…
- Scott Spiezio is in trouble with the law, and the Cardinals decided to release him for it. Joe Ostermeier notes that the Cards now have about $20MM in dead money on the payroll for ’08.
- Evan Grant believes the Rangers would want Jose Ceda or Donald Veal in a deal for Marlon Byrd.
- Call it informed speculation, but Mike Berardino wonders whether Carl Pavano could end up back with the Marlins eventually.
- Ken Rosenthal recently wrote that the Padres were eyeing Gabe Gross. Tom Haudricourt found out that Kevin Towers never inquired on the Brewers outfielder, but that doesn’t mean the Friars weren’t eyeing him.
- Ken Davidoff makes a case for why the Astros should sign Roger Clemens.
- Sadly, the Rockies pulled the plug on a deal with Neifi Perez at the last minute.
- We hear "best shape of his life" often in Spring Training, but not with the newly signed Bartolo Colon. The Red Sox have some history pursuing Colon, as noted by Rob Bradford.
- Conor Jackson switched agents.
Brewers Talk Extension With Braun
According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, Ryan Braun‘s agent had preliminary contract extension talks with Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash recently. Troy Tulowitzki‘s recent deal may serve as a framework.
Tulo received $31MM over six years with a seventh year option. For their cases to be comparable in terms of service time, Braun will have to qualify as a Super Two player. I spoke to ESPN’s Keith Law on the topic. He said:
Right now, given his service time and where the cutoff for super-twos has been for the last ~ten years, I don’t believe he’ll have enough service time after 2009 to qualify as a super-two. That has to be a $5 million savings for Milwaukee, easily, if Braun does anything like what he did last year.
Brewers Talk Extension With Braun
According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, Ryan Braun‘s agent had preliminary contract extension talks with Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash recently. Troy Tulowitzki‘s recent deal may serve as a framework.
Tulo received $31MM over six years with a seventh year option. For their cases to be comparable in terms of service time, Braun will have to qualify as a Super Two player. I spoke to ESPN’s Keith Law on the topic. He said:
Right now, given his service time and where the cutoff for super-twos has been for the last ~ten years, I don’t believe he’ll have enough service time after 2009 to qualify as a super-two. That has to be a $5 million savings for Milwaukee, easily, if Braun does anything like what he did last year.
Fogg Still Looking For Work
Every year some free agent unexpectedly finds himself without a job in late February. This year, that guy is Josh Fogg. To rejoin the Rockies, Fogg would have to take a pay cut from his ’07 salary of $3.625MM, and he’d have to be open to bullpen work.
Will anyone take Fogg in for $4MM and give him a rotation spot? The Nationals, Reds, Astros, and Cardinals seem like viable options. Viva El Birdos isn’t thrilled with the Cardinals’ portrayal of Matt Clement’s health. Since Clement won’t be ready for the start of the season, maybe St. Louis will add some depth with Fogg. However, John Mozeliak implied a couple of days ago that he wasn’t going to make anymore acquisitions.
Fogg Still Looking For Work
Every year some free agent unexpectedly finds himself without a job in late February. This year, that guy is Josh Fogg. To rejoin the Rockies, Fogg would have to take a pay cut from his ’07 salary of $3.625MM, and he’d have to be open to bullpen work.
Will anyone take Fogg in for $4MM and give him a rotation spot? The Nationals, Reds, Astros, and Cardinals seem like viable options. Viva El Birdos isn’t thrilled with the Cardinals’ portrayal of Matt Clement’s health. Since Clement won’t be ready for the start of the season, maybe St. Louis will add some depth with Fogg. However, John Mozeliak implied a couple of days ago that he wasn’t going to make anymore acquisitions.
Fogg Turns Down Rockies
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney:
The Rockies talked again about re-signing Josh Fogg, but again, Fogg’s side has turned down a one-year offer. The Rockies dangled a $5 million deal, while Fogg has been looking for a multi-year contract.
As each day goes by, the remaining free agents lose what little leverage they have left. I predicted Fogg would get a three-year, $21MM deal. Instead, only five starters received deals worth $7MM or more annually: Tom Glavine, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, Kenny Rogers, and Carlos Silva. Pettitte at $16MM seems a little out there, doesn’t it?
I think we’re going to see some solid free agent bargains next week. Maybe a free agent bargain just means paying a guy what he’s worth instead of significantly more than that.
Fogg Turns Down Rockies
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney:
The Rockies talked again about re-signing Josh Fogg, but again, Fogg’s side has turned down a one-year offer. The Rockies dangled a $5 million deal, while Fogg has been looking for a multi-year contract.
As each day goes by, the remaining free agents lose what little leverage they have left. I predicted Fogg would get a three-year, $21MM deal. Instead, only five starters received deals worth $7MM or more annually: Tom Glavine, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, Kenny Rogers, and Carlos Silva. Pettitte at $16MM seems a little out there, doesn’t it?
I think we’re going to see some solid free agent bargains next week. Maybe a free agent bargain just means paying a guy what he’s worth instead of significantly more than that.
Rockies Win Arbitration Case Against Fuentes
The Rockies beat Brian Fuentes in their arbitration hearing, with the panel choosing the team’s $5.05MM figure over Fuentes’ $6.5MM. Can’t hurt his trade value.
Fuentes, a 32 year-old southpaw, is set to enter 2008 as a setup man for the first time in quite a while. Given that this is his contract year, it’s not ideal for him. He’ll get paid regardless, but I’m sure he’d prefer to hit the market with another 30 saves in his pocket. Here’s a look at the pecking order for saves on each of the 30 clubs.
The Braves were interested in Fuentes in December, but didn’t want to take on his entire salary. The Mets and Red Sox also reportedly inquired that month.
Blanton May Be Traded
9:14pm: Fay suggests the A’s would want Homer Bailey or Johnny Cueto, Joey Votto, and a third player for Blanton.
1:32pm: Paul Daugherty and John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer report that the Reds and Dodgers are talking to the A’s about Blanton. Seems to be a disagreement about whether the Dodgers are in on this.
10:31am: Check out this new Ken Rosenthal video (hat tip to MetsBlog). The video is all about Joe Blanton.
- One Rosenthal source suggests a 50/50 chance Blanton is traded (presumably before the season starts).
- Two teams are showing significant interest. Rosenthal believes the Reds are one, and the Twins or Rays could be another. He rules out the Dodgers, Yankees, Rockies, and Indians. The Reds have had preliminary discussions for Blanton already. How about the Phillies? They came calling in July.
- Rosenthal notes that the bounty for Blanton will be less than that of Dan Haren, because Blanton is slightly more expensive and an inferior pitcher.
- On January 14th, an A’s source suggested to MLB.com’s Jim Molony who expected Blanton to be the A’s Opening Day starter.